National Enquirer Publishes Photo Of Whitney Houston In Her Coffin, Funeral Home Responds

Did the National Enquirer publish a real photo of Whitney Houston laying in her casket (blurred for obvious reasons) and if so, what were they thinking?

Earlier this week, the publication released their latest issue with a cover photo of Whitney Houston lying peacefully in her casket. The headline surrounding the photo read: ‘Whitney’s Last Photo: Buried In Jewelry Worth $500,000, Wore Her Favorite Purple Dress, Had Gold Slippers on her feet”. As outraged as fans were over the release of the pic, the underlying question is whether someone in Whitney’s family or camp sold her out to the Enquirer for a few bucks or was it someone on staff at the Funeral home that took the photo. The picture is estimated to be worth a few hundred grand.

Although the editor over at the Enquirer sees no issues with them posting the pic which she claims was ‘a work of art’. [She is also quoted as saying that she thought the photo was beautiful] , the owner of Whigham funeral home is frustrated with the media and is saying it’s making her business look bad.

I’m going to answer you as the publicist told me to answer you: We have no comment. But it was not the funeral home,” Whigham said. She then expressed irritation with the media. “You guys are getting me in the middle,” she said, adding that the publicity is making her business look bad.

Asked to elaborate, she said: “I am very angry, very upset, just like the family, just like the fans,” referring to the publication of the photo. “We don’t like it because it implicates us. Whitney was a personal friend to me and my family. We would not do that.”

Meanwhile, radio host Charlamagne The God and Ciara were among a lit of folks who spoke out against the photo on twitter. Ciara wrote:

IT IS TERRIBLE THAT SOMEONE WOULD TAKE A PHOTO OF SOMEONE’S BODY AT REST & SELL IT TO A MAGAZINE!!! JUST TERRIBLE!:(

And Charlamagne added:

The National Enquirer is tacky as f-ck, but not as tacky as the person who took the pics of Whitney in her coffin.

This isn’t the first time that the National Enquirer caught flack for running pics of dead celebrities. Back in 1977 they ran a picture of Elvis Presley in his casket and in 1980 they published a photo of The Beatles’ John Lennon right after he died.

144 People Bitching

Classless and pathetic to see how many people will try to make $$$ off of someone who is no
longer living. If I was the Houston family I would see this magazine till they no longer exist.
Maybe then they’ll get the point that there are limits and respecting someone’s past loved one
is one of them…

It had to be someone they know…im sure some average joe
couldn’t just walk in the funeral home and view her body
smh the things ppl will do for money…this is just classless

+14 BellaCuteGirl Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 4:20 pm

I blame the money hungry Family member or “Friend” that took the picture and sold it! I hope they are exposed and can’t live with themselves knowing what they did! So sad!! The National Enquirer needs to be shut down! Who even reads that trash!

+24 BellaCuteGirl Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 4:27 pm

And Another thing!! I wish people would realize she was a HUMAN BEING! She is a MOTHER,DAUGHTER< SISTER,AUNT,FRIEND!! A damn dog is due respect! RESPECT her and her family! If it was my family member im going bat sh*t crazy on EVERYBODY. Poor Bobbi Kris and Cissy! How will they ever heal?

I am pissed! You shouldn’t want to have a pic to remember her in this state! DISRESPECTFUL! I hope the fam takes a stand and get to the bottom of who did this..smh! If I had the power I would shut the Enquire dwn..PURE GARBAGE!

+4 TELL IT Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 6:11 pm

Wendy Williams

+5 Its time for the perculator Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 6:40 pm

If u look at the smaller pic, it was taken while clearly no one else was there. I think the funeral home staff took it before the viewing hence the absense of other people, but then again the person who took it may have waited until everyone left to take it… idk but usually the family sees the body first and then everyone else and Im sure once Sissy and Krissy came, they stayed the ENTIRE time until everyone left. Just my Opinion and the enquirer pulled this crap when Anna Nicole Smith died, but it was Waaaaaaay more Graphic. They showed her all blue and dead in the body bag. I regret seeing that bc it actually scared me to see her dead body like that. But sad… anything for a buck

Exactly. That’s exactly why I can’t get with Wendy Williams arse. She pulls a lot of her stories from the National Enquirer.

+10 Shortie Blaque Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 9:23 pm

I saw the pic and ima be honest as disgusting as the person who sold the pic
is… she looked very beautiful. She looked just like she was sleeping…
Anyway idk y’all.. i dnt see a problem taking a pic of a dead body if u fam but
when u selling it making this private moment public thats mad disrespectful.

+6 dj0nes Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 4:44 pm

@loveall you cant be serious! Whoever did this has
a warm spot in hell waiting for them

+5 SHEENA Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 5:18 pm

@ djones – f a warm spot they got a hot azz spot waiting in hell

+7 Vanessa Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 5:27 pm

I think there should be a law against this…they went entirely too far! Now I know what it means to be famous…you sale your soul weather you want to or not.. by selling your soul I mean you have absolutely NO privacy!! Someone needs to take a stand and end this shit

-1 LMFAO Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 6:02 pm

I saw the picture. Very disrespectful. But at the same time I don’t understand why make-up was applied on her face. Like for real? smh

+1 SWEETRED Reply:February 24th, 2012 at 2:29 pm

Whitney wore jewelry, makeup and wigs while she was living and breathing so why wouldn’t she have the same things while as shelay in a coffin? There are actual makeup artists and hairstylists who do work for funeral homes. She was beautiful.

+2 Dee Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 6:22 pm

Of course it was someone that the family knew!! The person who did this was very sick!!! Not only do I fault the magazine,but even more the disgusting person that did this. The famiuly shared whitney with us for years and even let us view the funeral, they don’t even have their final viewing for themselves. This was terribly wrong!!!

SWEETRED Reply:February 24th, 2012 at 5:21 pm

I love the NE, I read it every week. They told the truth about Whitney, especially that these were her last days. I knew they would obtain the photo and I’m sure the payment was a generous amount. The public, her fans, loved ones, all that were not allowed or were unable to attend the viewing of her body had the right to see her for the very last time.The photo had to be taken right after the body was completely prepared and ready for showing to the family/friends. I wonder if there was security posted at this body before her body was displayed. Someone had to be left alone with no witnesses around to take the photo. Otherwise the witness could sell their story later on and reveal who took the photo. Maybe it was the Funeral Director herself or someone connected to the home. I find that many people of color love photographing the dead!!! I wonder if her friend Robyn Crawford was there at the viewing?

+11 R E A L L Y ? ? ? Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 4:13 pm

I think some people are numb to the fact that this was a FUNERAL. It wasn’t a concert or a party but a funeral and I feel like some people need to recognize that.
Nat’l Enquierer has always been messy so I’m not necessarily surprised they would do this but whitney houston’s family gets a huge side eye from me for not only selling this pic from the wake or w/e for money, not only for constantly blaiming and mistreating bobby, but now they’re selling the footage from the funeral and saying they’re doing it to “benefit Bobbi Kristina”

+1 the anti idiot Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 4:25 pm

I agree with the Bobby part. They didn’t have to do him like that. I too am disturbed.

How do the ppl who edit for this publication even sleep at night? Scum of the Earth. The lot of them. SMH.

resurrected Reply:February 24th, 2012 at 10:12 am

It’s the world that we live in and sometimes I think that
we don’t get it people cross incredible boundaries to get
what they need to attain money. It is a pretty picture of
her but tacky to just disregard someone life, privacy and
the family’s pain. People are so one dimensional,
one focused and very one minded these days. Tunneled vision
into the wrong direction and stuck on stupid integrity is
really had to come by these days in anyone. People no
longer have to weigh there actions, thoughts or levels of
consciousness. I can’t imagine what BK is going through
with all of these people trying to hang her mother in a bad
light or exploiting her talent and existence on a daily.

That was someone at the funeral home. Either the director or the one who does the makeup and dressing. Whoever it was was paid 500K. Look in the coming weeks someone will be quitting. That looks like the picture was taken before the family arrived. It is empty. The area is not disturbed

That doesn’t matter because it’s on NE’s website. I was really hoping that they would let Whitney rest in peace. I guess not. Why my mother warned me that a coffin pic was going to be released

+1 kathyt Reply:February 23rd, 2012 at 8:50 pm

I agree…someone at the funeral home took the picture.
I recently lost my mom and when the family went for the
viewing we were escorted in by the funeral director
and at no time were we in the room with the body alone…
the funeral director was there the entire time. I am sure it was
taken prior to the viewing.

AGREED! This is just ughhh…. I never liked when people took pictures of the deceased at funerals of people that I knew personally none the less this. It’s disrespectful. The media and people couldn’t just let her rest in peace they had to start some hoopla from the lesbian rumors to this and it’s pitiful. Shame on whoever took and sold this picture I hope the money is worth the karma that is going to comeback and bite you in your A$$!

My heart just sank into my stomache when I seen this post. Before I even clicked on it to read what happened. I can’t believe the idiot who took this picture. I believe it was someone at the funeral home because they aren’t any other mourners in the photo and the setting does look undisturbed. Just sicking though… what people will do for money. How can this person sleep at night? -_-

Smh whoever took this picture and sold it to that magazine needs to be thrashed. I’m disturbed at the fact that it was a private view with close friends and family and this photo surfaced. That’s straight disrespectful.

WHOEVER took the pic is going hell with gasoline draws and with a match in they back pocket! I find it crzy the things ppl will do for money! Let that DIVA rest!!! sheesh…ya’ll wasnt worried about her until she passed anyway. Dogged her for years now EVERYBODY wanna cry and mourn.

I meant what I stated money is the root of all evil before money had barter system Man decided to place a faxed value on some paper and pieces of metal so I agree with love money as aspect. But I never misquoted anything.

Its disgusting and HIGHLY insensitive to those closest to her. Let her family mourn in peace and just let Whitney rest in peace. SMDH – I sometimes wonder about the conscience (if they have one) of those paparazzi ass fools

Smdh! This is beyond disgusting, people have no respect for the living and obviously no respect for the dead! I’m convinced some people will sell their soul for some pocket change! If this was a family member it makes it even more deplorable. You really have to pray for folks.

Disgusting…yes…but a couple of hundred grand to a live person is always going to trump the feelings of the dead and their families…maybe it should be illegal for people to print them….the Enquirer has done this before…but damn can Whitney EVER rest?

this just makes me so sad for Whitney and her daughter. She seemed like such a genuine person, and whoever did this most likely was a ‘snake’ to her while she was alive. We would be so quick to trash her, but damn looks like she had very few to trust. so so sad…

WHY THE FREAK CAN’T WHITNEY REST IN PEACE??!! WHY, WHY, WHY!! This is f-ing WRONG. The National Enquirer should be SHUT DOWN. The sad part though? People are going to buy this paper out and keep this picture like it’s a “keepsake” or something. GTFOH. That crap is WRONG.

I knew this would happen! When watching her funeral, I said I wonder how long it’s going to be before we see a picture of her in the morgue or casket! And Bingo, wasn’t long at all. People will sell their soul to the devil for money! It’s a shame that the Houston’s can’t grieve in private. I tell you family is worst than your known enemies sometimes. Your enemies get you from the front, while your family creeping up behind you with the knife for your back! SMGDH! I will just continue to pray for Bobbi Kristina and Ms. Cissy!

People are so cruel,Why would someone do something like this? What a shame. Let the Family of Whitney Houston alone,especially her Mother and daughter. Haters and Losers. You people that does things like this need some God in your lives.

It is more disgusting that the paper would publish it to make more sells, and also disturbing that people would buy it. I wish people would not buy the paper, then they would learn not to do it again. Why would anyone want to see a dead person’s body, and of what benefit would it be to them?

I salute Necole for blurring the picture she just showed me that not all blog sites are greedy hoers looking always to bash celebrities. it is a story because she(Necole) focusing on the sick bastard who did it and Why instead of glorifying the fact that she has the picture on her site as others are doing. APPLAUSE

Whitney looked absolutely beautiful at rest and i’m am disturbed that someone would be so thirsty and do that , but Whitney went out like a diva but i am disturbed and just shows what kind of world we live in

I Saw the pic on another site. I will say she looked so peaceful just like she was sleeping. I feel as though its sombody in the family or a friend. They can easily blame the funeral home and never get caught. That lady as a business to run I just can’t see her rick ruining her business. IM telling yall its somebody in that family.

I might get thumbs down for this one but i like i said before i dont care its only a blog!

why ppl keep saying it probably was the family it couldve been some of her celebrity friends or the people she grew up with from her hometown too. before this photos was leaked im sure everyone watched the live funeral hoping it would be an open casket many people was looking forward to that since they didnt show the viewing live now that the photo is leaked everyone is complaining saying its disrespectful and disturbing! as if she was looking a hot mess or something im just saying. too me whitney looks very beautiful as she laying peacefully in her casket too many of yall acting like yall never seen a dead body in a casket before!

now some ppl is saying her family sold her out than turn around and say that should be a lawsuit that seem very hypocritical why should the family get more money off of whitney? come on smh

IF Whitney knew the Lord, then she’s in PARADISE…stop worry about her “resting in peace”!! The only way to prevent a pic from being taken was not to let ANYBODY view the body, and the family had a viewing. I’ve read people saying that the family should sue the Enquirer, but that’ll get them nowhere, and they don’t have to give up their source. People…GET OVER IT, it happens all the time. Kudos to the funeral home, they did Whitney up nicely.

What they need to do is watch out for someone digging up that casket and jackin those jewels worth 500k….LOL!

I really don’t think its a big deal to take a picture of the dead it is not like that took pictures of her on the autopsy table. I saw the image and on media takeout and she looked beautiful, peaceful, and most importantly she look like her self. I do think it is wrong because someone went against the families wishes and made a profit of her death.

Cash rules everything around some. I have a feeling that it was not any funeral employees…the owner seems distraught over the mere fact that this picture is bringing her company negative attention. As a business owner, I’m pretty certain she took precautions to ensure her camp would be controversy-free, i.e. ensuring employees did not have camera phones or cameras on them. At least that is what I would do… There is a snake in every camp. This snake decided to get a few grand out of Whitney’s death. Only God knows who did it and I’m sure this person will surely feel His wrath in a way he sees fit.
RIP Whitney
BTW: The National Enquirer, c’mon people, they trashed Princess Diana after her death, showed dead pictures of Elvis Pressley, and the editor described Whitney’s photo as “beautiful”? You can’t expect much chivalry or common decency from those folks. Period. I’m glad they blurred the picture.

She is a star and will always be a star. This phase will pass. I’ll never forget how they tore MJ to shreds. Every bit of him. These things will one day get so old. This digital age is going to desensitize people as time goes on. The more you get exposed to some things, like this, the more fed up you can get. People eventually get tired and weighed down.

I’ve seen the actual photo and although Whitney looks beautiful the magazine should not have published it. I believe that was supposed to be a private moment for her family and close friends. I can’t believe someone, whomever is responsible would do something like that, all for a few hundred pounds.

What’s frightening is how they published that Whitney was buried with a half million dollars worth of jewels! That was a stupid thing to do imagine the crooks waiting for an opportunity once the media scrutiny wanes a bit.

I am extremely disturbed by this!!! This is just crazy! Let the woman rest in peace. It’s all about the almighty dollar. so sad. Whitney has a daughter that is still dealing with her death. she should not have to open blogs and magazines and see these upsetting articles. National Enquirer has GONE TOO FAR!!!! The sad part is that society’s appetite with celebrity has gotten so warped that the Enquirer thought they had an audience for this kind of trash. They should be boycotted until they pull the picture. It’s offensive. I hope not to accidentially look at the news stand when I’m in the checkout line and see it. I don’t think I could ever forget the image.

Yall take up for him like you know him personally and like you know the justice system. Please. I’m not saying he did it but if he did well then sucks to be him right now. Stop sticking up for this kid its getting old and tired.

if the funeral was public i would have went to pay my respects like any other fan but to put her picture up in a magazine for the whole world to see without her family’s permission was wrong. especially without considering how her daughter would feel and what she is dealing with. thats really sad. i would have liked to seen her for the last time but not like this. if it was a private event it shouldve stayed that way. ppl these days just cold. smh

I think the funeral should of been private. It was more of a concert to me then anything else. Is it true that they did it for monetary benefits? If so, thats low of the family. For one, they acted distasteful with Bobby, two now a photo surfaces of her in the casket? I mean that place should of been under strict surveillance cause this was bound to happen. At least the curious people know what she looks like.

How disgusting and tacky can you be? Such a hurtful and despicable thing to do to someone and, especially their family when they are still grieving the lost. Totally inappropriate and, they should be sued.

Thank you Necole for being classy and decent enough to censor this picture. Unlike other blogs who blatantly supported the Enquirer by showing the cover page (even though we can see it in the supermarket) but the point is you didn’t continue the disrespect. You relayed the story without further stripping the Houston family and Fans of dignity.

Hasn’t anyone even though that the image is a fake, and that they photoshopped part of her closed casket, and an old profile image of Houston. It image looks fake to me. The position of the head and the top part of the body. Isn’t there a legal way to get ahold of that photo to see if it is authentic.
I am a Photoshop expert and know how images can be manipulated and combined, even a cavemen could do it!

I’m not surprised that someone would leak these pics….people are ruthless and the media supports every bit of it. Just like when they leaked those pics of Rihanna after that fight with CB. Some things just should NOT be for the public to see….Enquirer is right in the category of NO class. No peace even in death, smh

I’m pretty sure it was a family member or friend of the family. This funeral home has been responsible for handling the funerals for 3 of my family members, and they are VERY professional. Plus, they have dealt with other celebrity funerals, and nothing like this has happened. The place isn’t but so big. IT was definitely someone that was invited to the wake, not the staff.

This is how I see it: If Whitney’s daughter or her mother benefitted from this photo’, than I have no issue with it. However, anyone outside of the aformentioned, and it is disgusting.

Since people are so outraged, this issue of the Enquirer could be boycotted. But this is not likely to occur, because this issue could become a collector’s item, due to Whitney’s astronomical star power. Sad, but true.

Cliara need to shut up because she wasn’t no better, didn’t she go to that party and looking like trash on top of it?

National enquire always do stuff like this. This is actually them being nice, I was expecting them to post bathroom one. This just goes to show you, her mama don’t have a character. She don’t know fake when she see it, from clive to the funeral home folks.

But what we do know it wasn’t Bobby he wasn’t there, yall can’t blame this one on him. Whitneys loved, photos irrelevant.

Oh and if they were fake I’m pretty sure the funeral home owner would have said that by now. When MJ had his REAL private ceremony none of that kind of stuff got out? Why because his mama knew who was fake and who was not. Whitneys Mom is starting to make me wonder her decisions appear to be horrible.

It seems as though nothing is sacred anymore. Let Whitney Houston rest in peace. How much more can the media attempt to cheapen the life of Whitney Houston? It is time that the musical art that she presented to the world be respected. Let the media circus cease. The media has made enough money displaying the downfall of Whitney Houston for almost a decade. Her family deserves to mourn in peace.

Oh u best believe that someone on staff or someone close to the family took that picture. Makes u wonder where they got that gold hearse from. Either way it’s sad that someone would choose to dehumanize a person in their final resting state for a couple of coins…She was beautiful tho,,,

All of this is just the price of Celebrity!! I really don’t know how to feel about this. On the one hand the funeral was televised: I thought that was kinda messed up. On the other hand it is supposed to be a private moment for friends and family to show their respect and to grieve. But, it was on TV!!! Do ya’ll understand what I’m saying? Even though it may have been closed casket on TV it was still on TV. SMH both ways!!!!

enquirer even had a pic of whitney laying on floor in the bathroom, i instantly knew it was photo fix, with photo fix you can add things, you can take things out, you can do all kind of things. so dont believe the bull, now let her rest in peace, them dam pics aint even whitney, will yall please stop it. enquirer can get sued, they know what they doing. i use to buy enquirer all the time, until i found out they was fake. the picture is not her. please let her rest. please

Leave A Comment:

Necole Bitchie encourages the use of Gravatars in the comments section. Click Here to create your very own personalized Bitchie Chick and then upload it to your profile in our Members Section or to your Gravatar.com account.